Omaha daily bee., 1887-01-04
The POLITICAL DEVIL-FISH
Stretching Out It's Thousand Tentacles to
Suck in Legislators.
DlsoRAceFUL RAILROAD WORK.
The B. q NJ. Troupe Of Shysters and
Migrants on Hand - Harlan
I'onds For Speakcr-Mor-
rissey's Insolence.
rbe Situation at Lincoln.

sht ut Lincoln.
LINCOLN, Jan. 3.-ISpecial Telegram to
the BEE.l-ln the day of old Rome we are
told no augur ever passed another in the
public highway without laughing outright.
These antique imposters, who played upon
the Ignorant, credulous and superstitious
Roman populace, have their counterpart right
mere i'll impudent and vena monopoly
Jugplers who are crOwding the hotel corri-
dors, shouting Justify, "there is no safety
save in the caucus" In the bedlam of the
old Commercial hotel (now known as the
CapitoD, which from cellar to garret is en-
veloped in dense smoke and jammed with
1ostling humanity, the most disgusting spec
tacle is presented. The horde of railroad
strikers, political parasites and hungry place
seekers are keeping up continuous on
slaught upon the incoming members. The
audacity and boldness with which these
stool pigeons, lunch iiends and fakirs are ply
Ing their infamous vocation Is simply amaz-
ing The Burlington managers have mus
tered their entire force of roustabouts and
henchmen into this dsreputable service, and
men who would be ashamed to prostitute
themselves to such base ends as private cit-
Zens are here to-day engaged in acrlmnal as
sault on popular, conservative government.
a railroad that cannot afford to pay decent
living wages to its clerks and workingmen
can squander thousands of dollars IN the vii
lainous work of corrupting and debauch-
ing legislature. Here we have the
company's political attorneys, right-of-way
agents. freight agents, townsite men, bill
board travellers, and an entire troupe of
shysters and vagrants hired for this special
occasion. While General Attorney Marquette
Is pulling the wires from his law office,
Charley Green, Deweese and Frank Walters
TURING at tho tai nj ba rna NIL
in the hotel rotunda and pounding the
hewgag and tom-tom for the republican eau
Gus, while Tobe Castor is plotting the demo-
Gratis OF the railroad rght-of way into the
democratic caucus.
In reaching out with its thousand tentacles
for the control of legislation, this great pol
itical devillish is operating through various
channels. Among its most efficient emssar-
les are professional and business men who
pass for decent and respectable. They are
away UP In secret benevolent society, in the
Grand Army, and other reputable organiza-
tions, which they seek to use in
influencing the conduct of members.
Among the most active of this class
is Captain Palmer of Plattsmouth. This
man is general agent of New York insur-
ance company and is reputed to save up
about $1,000 year through the use of annual
railroad passes while travelling on insurance
business, for which mileage is allowed. lie
is here, as usual, very much interested in in
Structing infant members how to work, now
10 talk and how to vote.
Other railroads are not entirely idle. Mr..
Thurston is here with his aid de camp John
Manchester, who is On the Union Pacific pay
roll rs claim adjuster. Then we have Van
dervOort of postal fame, who holds some
position on the Union Pacific for services
which are kept strictly confidential. This
etching is very incomplete, however. There
are groups of honorable" bulidozers and
mOntebanks, from Church Howe down to
Ed. earns and Humphrey, the Pawnee
blatherskite.
The situation tonight is somewhat COM
plicated. The anti-Van Wyck and railroad
lobby boastfully assert that they have roped
three OF Van Wyck's friends into a republ-
can senate caucus which has been called for
tomorrow morning. They claim that with
these Van Wyck members they will have
seventeen votes, just enough to organize the
senate. Two of the three senators disclaim
any such intention, and it is very
doubtful if the caucus will materaize. 1t is
generally conceded that Harlan for speaker
has the inside tack, and will carry n major
ity in or out of caucus. Harlan is very
pronounced Van Wyck man. lie was
member OF the last legislature, and made an
excellent record. Personally he is adverse
TO caucus, but many of his friends
3. are committed and urge him to go in. No de-
pc.-sn has been reached as yet on this point
ana is not likely to be until very late hour
tonight.
In drumming up the senate caucus the anti
Van Wyck members have been forced to
make pledges that the senate will organize
its own committees. l am told the lieutenant
governor is begging to be allowed TO go
through the form of making the committees
after n majority of the senate has agreed on
Them This is rather pittul. if not humil-
iating attitude for an officer elected merely
TO preside over the senate and not to
dominate in legislation.
The democrats are holding conference
tonight as to their course tomorrow DR..
Millers alter ego, Morrssey has had tho
insolence to command the democrats to 20
into caucus and vote for democratic speaker
This advice has been disrespectfully declined.
L. RosEwATER.
THE ILLINOIS SENATORSHIP.
Legislators All Assembled For the
Coming Struggle.